Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday that he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday to discuss key issues in ongoing efforts to end Russia’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine.
“This meeting is specifically for the purpose of finalising everything as much as we can,” Zelenskyy told reporters, echoing his earlier statements. The talks, expected at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, will focus on territorial disputes—particularly in the Donbas region and the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant—as well as robust security guarantees for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy described a U.S.-backed 20-point peace framework as “about 90% ready,” with separate drafts on security and economic agreements nearing completion. He expressed optimism, stating, “A lot can be decided before the New Year.”
The announcement follows intensive U.S.-led diplomacy, including Zelenskyy’s Christmas Day phone call with Trump’s negotiators, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. European leaders may join remotely, with Zelenskyy coordinating positions with NATO chief Mark Rutte and others.
Trump, in comments to Politico, positioned himself as the final arbiter: “He doesn’t have anything until I approve it. So we’ll see what he’s got.” He anticipated a productive meeting and plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon.
The leaders last met in August at the White House alongside European and NATO officials for multilateral talks, where Trump noted “substantial progress” toward ending the war.
Challenges remain, with Moscow insisting on full control of Donbas and showing limited flexibility. Russia launched major airstrikes on Ukraine overnight, underscoring ongoing tensions ahead of the summit.
The meeting represents a critical step in Washington’s renewed push for peace, amid conflicting demands from Kyiv and Moscow.